Exciting enhancements are coming soon to eCode360! Learn more 🡪
Borough of Westwood, NJ
Bergen County
By using eCode360 you agree to be legally bound by the Terms of Use. If you do not agree to the Terms of Use, please do not use eCode360.
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Code
New Laws (6) Index Notes (12)
[Adopted 5-19-2009 by Ord. No. 09-08]
There is hereby created within the Borough of Westwood an agency to be known as the "Substandard Housing Task Force" as a means and method to coordinate oversight and review of Chapter 272, Rental Dwellings, Article I, Registration and Inspection.
[1]
Editor's Note: Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I).
The Substandard Housing Task Force shall consist of representatives of the following within the Borough of Westwood:
A. 
Code Enforcement Officer.
B. 
Zoning Officer.
C. 
Housing Officer.
The Housing Officer shall be the Chairperson of the Substandard Housing Task Force and shall be empowered to call meetings from time to time, as needed, on three days' notice.
The following persons and agencies shall be authorized and directed to assist the Substandard Housing Task Force on an as-needed basis:
A. 
Fire Official.
B. 
Board of Health and Director.
C. 
Police Department.
D. 
Administrator.
E. 
Tax Assessor.
The purpose of the Substandard Housing Task Force shall be to facilitate the remediation, regulation or elimination of rental dwelling units within the Borough of Westwood which have conditions which violate building, zoning, health, fire or safety codes.
The Substandard Housing Task Force will be responsible to assist in identifying illegal residential rental dwelling units. In assessing such units, the Substandard Housing Task Force shall review appropriate documentation and consider the following criteria:
A. 
Appropriate signed CO or CCO.
B. 
Appropriate zoning resolution.
C. 
Building permits.
D. 
Tax Department files (recognizing that tax records do not determine legality, only existing conditions).
E. 
Utility bills.
F. 
Income tax returns.
G. 
Closing documents.
H. 
Building codes.
I. 
Other relevant evidence.
In achieving its purpose, the Substandard Housing Task Force shall have the following powers, duties and responsibilities:
A. 
To meet on an as-needed basis to coordinate common complaints and observations, review progress on cited concerns and establish appropriate chain of actions to effectuate corrections.
B. 
To make recommendations from time to time to the Mayor and Council relative to ordinance amendments or other matters pertinent to its charge.
C. 
To arrange a mechanism for the sharing of any information relative to substandard residential rental dwelling units within the Borough of Westwood between and among all of the member agencies except as and where limited by applicable law.
D. 
To report observed violations of the applicable codes and regulations to the agency having the power of enforcement over same with appropriate memos and documentation and to assist in such prosecutions through the production of testimony or evidence as needed.
E. 
To establish a useful database to facilitate its activities.
F. 
To monitor generally land use and enforcement activities relative to its purposes.